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Honesty

Chords

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[Intro]
Bb Bbm/Ab Gbmaj7 F7
[Verse 1]
   BbIf you search for Ebtenderness   Fit isn't F/Ebhard to Dm7find
    EbYou can have the Gm7love you need to Am7liveAm7  Cm7  F  F7  
   BbAnd if you look for Csus4truthfulCness you F/Cmight just as A/C#well be Dmblind
It Ebalways seems to A7be so hard to Dsus4giveD  Dsus4  
[Chorus]
Ebmaj7Honest - F7y is D/F#such a lonely Gm7wordF  
EbEveryone is Fso Eb/Bbuntrue-BbueD  
Ebmaj7Honest - F7y is D/F#hardly ever Gm7heardF  
But Ebmostly what I Fneed Eb/Ffrom BbyouF9sus  
[Verse 2]
   BbI can always Ebfind someone   Fto say they sympaDm7thize
   EbIf I wear my Gm7heart out on my Am7sleeveAm7  Cm7  F  F7  
   BbBut I don't want some Csus4pretty Cface to F/Ctell me A/C#pretty Dmlies
   EbAll I want is A7someone to beDsus4lieveD  
[Chorus]
Ebmaj7Honest - F7y is D/F#such a lonely Gm7wordF  
EbEveryone is Fso Eb/Bbuntrue-BbueD  
Ebmaj7Honest - F7y is D/F#hardly ever Gm7heardF  
But Ebmostly what I Fneed Eb/Ffrom you-
BbouBbm/Ab  Gbmaj7  F7  
[Bridge]
    GmI can find a lover,     D/GI can find a friend
    Fm6I can have security unC/Etil the bitter end
   EbAnyone can Bb/Fcomfort Fme with Eb/Bbpromises aBbgain
I C9sus4know, (I Cknow) I Fknow, D/F#whoa, Dwhoa EbohhhF9sus4  
[Verse 3]
    BbWhen I'm deep Ebinside of me,  Fdon't F/Ebbe too conDm7cerned
   EbI won't ask for Gm7nothing while I'm Am7goneAm7  Cm7  F  F7  
    BbWhen I want Csus4sincerity   Ctell me F/Cwhere else A/C#can I Dmturn?
Cause Ebyou're the one that A7I depend uDsus4ponD  
[Chorus]
Ebmaj7Honest - F7y       D/F#is such a lonely Gm7wordF  
EbEveryone is Fso Eb/BbuntrueBb  D  
Ebmaj7Honest - F7y       D/F#is hardly ever Gm7heardF  
EbBut mostly what I Fneed Eb/Ffrom you-
BbouBbm/Ab  Gbmaj7  F7  Ebm(maj7)  F6  F7  Bb  

All chords in this song (24)

The story behind the song

This piano ballad explores the challenging and often elusive nature of honesty, even within the closest relationships. The lyrics delve into the feeling that "honesty is such a lonely word," suggesting a search for genuine truth in a world where it can be scarce. It speaks to the vulnerability of "wearing your heart on your sleeve" and the idea that true care might sometimes manifest as difficult truths. Playing this song channels a deep introspection about authenticity and connection.

AI-written from these sources:Honesty (Billy Joel song) — Wikipedia ↗List of Billy Joel band members — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Honesty

by Billy Joel

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Bbm/Ab

Gbmaj7

F/Eb

Dm7

Gm7

Am7

Cm7

Csus4

F/C

A/C#

Dsus4

Ebmaj7

D/F#

Eb/Bb

Eb/F

F9sus

[Intro]

Bb Bbm/Ab Gbmaj7 F7

[Verse 1]

Bb Eb F F/Eb Dm7

If you search for tenderness it isn't hard to find

Eb Gm7 Am7 Am7 Cm7 F F7

You can have the love you need to live

Bb Csus4 C F/C A/C# Dm

And if you look for truthfulness you might just as well be blind

Eb A7 Dsus4 D Dsus4

It always seems to be so hard to give

[Chorus]

Ebmaj7 F7 D/F# Gm7 F

Honest - y is such a lonely word

Eb F Eb/Bb Bb D

Everyone is so untrue-ue

Ebmaj7 F7 D/F# Gm7 F

Honest - y is hardly ever heard

Eb F Eb/F Bb F9sus

But mostly what I need from you

[Verse 2]

Bb Eb F Dm7

I can always find someone to say they sympathize

Eb Gm7 Am7 Am7 Cm7 F F7

If I wear my heart out on my sleeve

Bb Csus4 C F/C A/C# Dm

But I don't want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies

Eb A7 Dsus4 D

All I want is someone to believe

[Chorus]

Ebmaj7 F7 D/F# Gm7 F

Honest - y is such a lonely word

Eb F Eb/Bb Bb D

Everyone is so untrue-ue

Ebmaj7 F7 D/F# Gm7 F

Honest - y is hardly ever heard

Eb F Eb/F

But mostly what I need from you-

Bb Bbm/Ab Gbmaj7 F7

[Bridge]

Gm D/G

I can find a lover, I can find a friend

Fm6 C/E

I can have security until the bitter end

Eb Bb/F F Eb/Bb Bb

Anyone can comfort me with promises again

C9sus4 C F D/F# D Eb F9sus4

I know, (I know) I know, whoa, whoa ohhh

[Verse 3]

Bb Eb F F/Eb Dm7

When I'm deep inside of me, don't be too concerned

Eb Gm7 Am7 Am7 Cm7 F F7

I won't ask for nothing while I'm gone

Bb Csus4 C F/C A/C# Dm

When I want sincerity tell me where else can I turn?

Eb A7 Dsus4 D

Cause you're the one that I depend upon

[Chorus]

Ebmaj7 F7 D/F# Gm7 F

Honest - y is such a lonely word

Eb F Eb/Bb Bb D

Everyone is so untrue

Ebmaj7 F7 D/F# Gm7 F

Honest - y is hardly ever heard

Eb F Eb/F

But mostly what I need from you-

Bb Bbm/Ab Gbmaj7 F7 Ebm(maj7) F6 F7 Bb

About Honesty Chords by Billy Joel

Learn how to play Honesty by Billy Joel with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Honesty chords”, “Honesty guitar chords”, or “Billy Joel Honesty chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Honesty chords and for experienced players who want accurate Honesty lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Bb, Bbm/Ab, Gbmaj7, F7, Eb, F.

FAQ — Honesty by Billy Joel

How do I play "Honesty" by Billy Joel on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Honesty" by Billy Joel on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Honesty" by Billy Joel free?

Yes. The chords for "Honesty" by Billy Joel are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Honesty" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Honesty" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Honesty"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Honesty" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Honesty" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Honesty" by Billy Joel with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Billy Joel below.

What key is "Honesty" in?

The chords for "Honesty" show the original chord names (including Bb, Bbm/Ab, Gbmaj7, F7, Eb, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.